Closure operating mechanism



July 5, 1932. BRADY 1,866,392

CLOSURE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY v INVENTOR v July 5, 1932. BRADY 1,866,392

CLOSURE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I W Q INVENTOR ATTORNEY 1 1. n 1 1 .aole ready Patented July 5, 1932 iii near a s ars Fir:

THOMAS BRADY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO OTIS ELEVATOR COM- IFANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,. A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY GLOS'UBE ornnerme MECHANISM Application filed March 22, 1930.:Seria1 No. 438,024.

The invention relates to closure operating devices and particularly to devices for operating the car or hatchway doors of an elevator installation.

It has been found desirable to provide power actuated devices for effecting the automatic operation of the car and/or hatch} way doors of elevator installations particu larly in installations in which these closures are frequently operated. In the use of power actuated operating mechanism it is also desirable that the operating mechanism be sufiiciently powerful to rapidly operate the car and/or hatchway doors and yet permit ready manual operation of'these closures.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a power actuated operating mechanism for a closure which is so connected to the closure as to permit free manual operation of the closure when such manual operation is desirable or necessary.

A second feature is a power actuated op erating mechanism for a closure in which the operatin mechanism is not directly con nected to the closure but becomes effective, upon operation to move the closure to open or closed position.

A third feature resides in connecting the operating mechanism to the closure upon its operation to move the closure to one of its operated positions.

A. fourth feature resides in automatically disconnecting the operating mechanism from the closure when theclosure is moved into one of its operated positions in order to enmanual operation of the closure to be effected if desired.

A fifth feature resides in providing for ready manual operation of a closure from one of lit-S operatedpositions to another of its operated positions and enabling return movement of the closure to said one operated p0 sitic-n either manually or by power.

Other eatures and advantages will become apparent from the specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings w erein one emodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the embodiment of the invention'to be described the closure operatingdevice is utilized for eifecting the operation of the door of an elevator car. The car door is guided for movement transversely of the car. entrance and is connected to a carriage similarly, butindependently, guided. This carriage will hereinafter be referred to as the door carriage. A driving carriage is mounted for movement on the same guides as the door carriage and is positioned in abutment there with. A small electric motor mounted on the car is provided for movingthe driving carriage through a sprocket and chain arrangement, the chain being connected to the driving carriage. When the motor is operated in a direction to move the driving carriage in the direction of opening movement of the door, the driving carriage acts, because of its abutting relation with the door carriage, to push the door carriage in the same direction to move the door to open position. The motor is maintained energized as long as it is desired to hold the door in open position. v

The driving carriage is provided with coupling means biased into engagement with complementary coupling means on the door carriage. The coupling means become effec tive upon movement of the driving carriage in the direction of opening movement of the door to couple the'carriages to each other. e A

lever system connected to the driving carriage is also connected to a combined door closing and checking device provided for moving the driving carriage in the direction of closing movement of the door. The driving carriage upon movement in the opening direction of the door acts through the lever system to store energy in the door closing device for biasing thedriving carriage in the door closing direction. Upon deenergization of the motor, the door closing device acts through the lever system to move the driving carriage in the direction of closing move ment of the door. The movement of the driving carriage is transmitted through the coupling means to pull the door carriage along with the driving carriage for moving the door to closed position.

A stop is positioned to be engaged by the coupling means for operating the latter to roe uncouple the door carriage from the driving carriage when the door reaches closed position. Such uncoupling of the carriages permits movement of the door carriage and the door to manually open and reclose the door without moving the driving carriage idly and also without operating the motor and the door closing device idly.

A checking mechanism is provided for retarding the movement of the driving carriage, and hence of the door, in the latter part of the opening movement of the door by the motor. The check part of the combined door closing and checking device acts to bring the door to rest easily and quietly in the closing operation.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation ofa portion of an elevator car embodying the closure operating mechanism of the present invention and shows the car door in closed position with the door carriage and driving carriage positioned for enabling either power or manual operation of the car door.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the elevator car showing the arrangement of the closure operating mechanism on the car.

Figure 3 is an enlarged frontelevation of the door closing and checking mechanism.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 21 designates an elevator car carried by a car sling to the crosshead 22 of which hoisting ropes are secured for raising and lowering the car in the hatchway. The entrance of the car is provided with a closure, illustrated as a door 23 of the slidable type. Door 23 is suspended from hangers 24 engaging track 25 for guiding the door in its movement transversely of the car entrance. Track 25 is supported by brackets 26 mounted on a support 27. Support 27 is secured to and on tends between the uprights 28 of the car sling and parallels the sides and front of the An angle member 30' extending across the front of the car is mounted on brackets 26'.

A track structure 31, comprising an upper track 3-2 and a lower track 83, is secured to cross angle 30. A. pair of carriages 34- and mounted on structure 31 are provided with rollers engaging tracks 32 and 33 for guioing the carriages in their movement transversel of the car entrance. The carriage 34. is the driving carriage and is provided with pivotally mounted latches 36 and 37 which are connected by a link 40. The latches on driving carriage 34 are biased, as by gravity, into engagement with studs 38*on door carriage 35 for connecting the door carriage to the driving carriage. Latches 36 and 87 provided with bevelled noses for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. Latch is in the form of a pivoted bell crank the arm of which is provided with a roller 4L2 adapt-ed to engage a stop l3, extending forwardly from track structure 31, for raising the latches 36 and 37 out of engagement with the studs 38, as will be described hereinafter. A link 24 connects the car door to the door carriage for movement therewith.

An electri motor as, which may be either a direct current or an alternating current motor, is provided for moving driving carriage 34 in direction of opening movement of the car door. Motor 16 is mounted upon channels 47 secured to and extending from crosshead 22 of the car sling. Brackets 48 secured to channels i? and to cross angle 30 brace the channels to provide rigid support for motor 46. A sprocket- 49, fixed to the shaft of motor 16, is connected by a chain 51 to a similar sprocket 52 for driving the latter. Sprocket 52 fixed to one end of a shaft 57 journalled in a bearing 54 mounted on cross angle 30. A chain 55 connected at one'o'f its ends to driving carriage 34 runs from the carriage over a sprocket 56, fired to the other end of shaft 57, and over a sprocket or idler pulley 0 mounted on a plate on support 27. The other end of chain is also connected to the driving carriage.

Referring also to Figure 3, plate 50 supports a base for mounting mechanism for moving driving carriage 3 in the direction of closing movement of the car door and for dmg and cushioning the driving car riage and he car door in the latter part of their movement transversely of the car en trance. This door closing and checking mechaLsm is described in applicants prior Patent 1,738,686 issued December 10, 1929 and Will be described only briefly her-e1: as refer once may be had to the patent for a detailed description. A cker arm 7 2 pivotally connected to the di ng carriage is also p1votally connected to an arm 4 3' rotatably moun 1-1- 506K t72(-1 9fl t ec on Jase U. line ant to are so in broken position, as illustrated Figure 1. Arm 73 has a pro ectmn 82 to one end of which alink 75 18 connected, the other end a :1. i L W A 1 e 1;. or t it 1111).. eing cOiillucLe-n to yo -.o 4o pivotally mounted on base lug 86' to which the piston rod 10%- f a com-- bined door closmg and checking device, designated whole by 67, is connected. 1%.

tongue 69 on the check nder 105 of device is pivotally connected to arms 70 projecting from plate 65. With this arrangement a spring within the casing 133 of this device is tensionel when yoke Y6 is raised as driving carriage 34- is moved in the direction of opening movement of the car door. This spring, when tensioned, acts through p ston rod 10 yoke 76, link 75, arms '?3 and 72, to bias of" iage 34 in the direction of closing movement of one car door. In the latter part ofthe door closing movement of arriage 34 a piston connected to piston rod 10% coacts with check cylinder 105 to retard the carriage and hence the door.

A cradle 91 has a lug 9'3 pivotally connected Yoke '56 has a' to a lug 87 on yoke 7 6. A tongue 98 formed on the check cylinder 136 of a checking mechanism, designated as a Whole by 68, is pivotally connected to an adjustable coupling 94 at the base of cradle 91. The piston rod-100 of checking mechanism 68 is pivotally con-- nected by a tongued member 102 to a lug 103 on base 65. The arrangement is such that as yoke 76 moves upwardly, when driving carriage 34 is moved in the direction of door opening movement, check cylinder 136 moves with cradle 91 along piston rod 100 to cause check cylinder 136 to cooperate with a piston on piston rod 100 for retarding the driving carriage in the latter part of the door opening movement.

The operation is as follows: WVhen it is desired to open car door 23, motor 46 is energized causing sprocket 56 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction thereby acting through chain to move driving carriage 34 in a door opening direction. Since one edge of the driving carriage abuts door car- 'iage 35, to which car door 23 is connected by link 44, the door carriage is driven by carriage 34, thus moving the car door toward open position. In the initial part of the door opening movement roller 42 on arm 41 of latch 36 moves from engagement with stop 43 and latches 36 and 37 move by gravity into engagement with studs 38, thus connecting door carriage 35 to driving carriage 34. As driving carriage 34 is moved to open the car door, it acts through arms 72 and 7 3, link 7 5 and yoke 76 to move piston rod 104 and cradle 91 upwardly. Piston rod 104 as it movesupwardly acts to store energy in the spring within casing 133 of door closing device 67 i As cradle 91 moves upwardly it causes check cylinder 136 to move along piston rod 100. WVhen the car door nears open position, check cylinder 136 and a piston on rod 100 of checking device 68 cooperate to retard driving carriage 34, and hence door carriage 35 and door 23, to bring the door to rest easily and quietly. The opening movement of car door 23 istermina-ted by suitable stops. The door is maintained in open position by motor 46 so long as the motor remains energized.

hen it is desired to close the car door, motor 46 is deenergized. The spring within casing 133 of door closing device 67 then acts to move piston rod 104 downwardly and acts through piston rod 104, yoke 76, link 7 5 and arms 7 3 and 72 for causing movement of driving carriage 34 in a door closing direction.

As carriage 34 is moved door carriage 35 is drawn along therewith since it is now connected thereto by the engagement of links 36 and 37 with the studs 38. Thus, car door 23 is moved toward closed position. When the car door nears closed position the downward movement of piston rod 104 causesa piston secured thereto tocooperate with check cyl- .55 inder 105 for retarding the driving carriage to bring the car door to rest easily and quietly. As the car door reaches closed position, roller 42 on arm 41 of latch 36 engages stop 43. As a result, arm 41 is rocked about its pivotal mounting to raise latches 36 and 37 on the driving carriage from engagement with studs 38 on the door carriage, thus disengaged by links 36 and 37 on driving carriage 34 when the door is in closed position only the door carriage moves with the door in the manual operation thereof. Thus, since the power mechanisms for operating door carriage 35 and car door 23 are disconnected therefrom, it is not necessary to exert force for moving carriage 34 and for operating motor 46 and closing device 67 in addition to the force applied for moving the car door and he door carriage on their guiding tracks. lvhen the car door has been opened manually it maybe reclosed manually without causing movement of driving carriage 34 or the power devices, 46 and 67, for moving the carriage.

If, after the car door has been opened manually, it is desired to close the door by power, motor 46 is energized. Motor 46 moves the driving carriage in the direction of opening movement of the car door and acts to store energy in the spring of door closing device 67, as previously described. As the driving carriage approaches door carriage 35 in the latter part of its movement by motor 46, the bevelled noses of latches 36 and 37 engage studs 38 on carriage 35. As a result, the latches are raised and subsequently gravitate into engaging relation with studs 38' as the driving carriage stops in abutment with the door carriage. he car door may then be closed, upon deenergization of motor 46, by the power exerted by closing device 67, as previously described.

It is tobe noted that the above described closure operating mechanism relieves the occupa nts of the car of the inconvenience of operating the car door manually inasmuch as the door is operated in both directions by power.

. It is also to be noted that although the car door is arranged for power operation in both directions it may readily be operated in either direction by hand without exerting additional force to also operate the power devices idly. This is of particular advantage in the event that the driving motor 46 gets out of order.

Although motor ,46 has been described as employed for moving carriage 34 to open the door, the motor may also be utilized for closing'the door by reversing the motor to drive carriage 34 in the doorv closing direction. Also, other types of power devices may be employed for driving carriage 34c to open and close the door. Furthermore, other means may be utilized for retarding the door in the latter part of its opening and closing movements.

Although the closure operating mechanism has been'described as employed for operating the door of an elevator car it may also be employed for operating hatchway doors or other closures. Furthermore, the car door and a hatchway door adjacent the car may be operated simultaneously by the above described closure operating mechanism, if de sired. This may be effected, for example, by providing suitable apparatus for connecting a hatchway door to carriage 35 for movement therewith upon the arrival of the car to stop at the landing at which such hatchway door is located.

' As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparent- 1y widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. Closure operating mechanism comprising; a driving member guided formovement in opposite directions relatively to the open ing closed by said closure; a second member also guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said closure, said second member being positioned in the path of movement of said drivin mem her as it is moved in one direction but being disconnected therefrom when said closure is in closed position; means connecting the closure to said second member; means for moving said driving member in said opposite direction, said driving member when moved in the direction of opening movement of the closure pushing said second member in said direction to open said closure; and means for coupling said second member to said driving member during movement of said driving member in said opening direction, said driving member, upon movement b said moving means in the closing direction OT; said closu acting through said coupling means to pull said second member therewith to close closure.

2. Operating mechanism for a closure con prising; a member movable in opposite directions relativelyto the opening closed by l closure; means for connecting said closure to said member for movement thereby; a driving member movable in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said closure, said driving member being discon nected from said closure and adapted, upon movement in one direction, to act upon said first mentioned member to move said closure to one of its operated positions; means, operable upon movement of said dr ing member in said one direction, for couo ng said first mentioned member to said driving member for movement thereby in the other direction to move said closure to another of its operated positions and means for moving said driving member in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said closure.

3. In combination with a closure guided for movement relatively to the opening closed thereby; a member guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said closure; means connecting the closure to said member; a driving member guided for movement relatively to the opening closed by said closure, said driving memher being mounted in abutment with said first member but unconnected thereto; means for moving said driving member in said opposite directions, said driving member upon movement in the opening direction of said closure acting on said first member to move said first member for opening said closure; and means for coupling said first member to said driving member, said driving member, upon movement by said moving means in the direction of closing of said closure, acting through said coupling means to move said first member to close said closure.

4-. Operating mechanism for a closure comprising; a member movable in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said closure; means connecting said closure to said nember for movement thereby; a driving member movable in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said closure, said driving member being disconnected from said closure and being adapted, upon movement in one direction, to act upon said first mentioned member to move said closure to one of its operated positions; means, operable upon movement of said driving member in said one direction, for coupling said first mentioned member to said driving member for movement therewith in the other direction to move said closure to its other operated position; means for moving said driving member in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said closure and means operable upon movement of said closure to said other operated position for operating said coupling means to uncouple said first mentioned movable member from said driving member toenable manual movement of said closure to said one operated position Without causing operation of said driving member and the moving means therefor.

5. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a closure which when open afiords accessto the car; power mechanism for operating said closure; means for connecting said power mechanism to said closure; and means for operating said connecting means automatically when saidclosure is moved into closed position to disconnect said power operating mechanism from said closure so as to enable manual movement of said closure without movement of said power operating mechanism.

6. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a closure which when open affords access to said car; a member connected to said closure for movement therewith; a driving member movable in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said closure;

said driving member being disconnected from said closure and said first member and being abutted by said first member when the closure is in closed position; means for coupling said first member to said driving member; and means for moving said driving member in said opposite directions, saiddriving member when moved in the direction of opening movement of the closure pushing said first member in said direction to open said closure and acting, when moved in the opposite direction, through said coupling means to pull said first member therewith to close said closure. 5

7. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a closure which when open afiords'access to said car; amember movable in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said closure; means for connecting said closure to said member; a driving member mov-.

able in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said closure, said driving member being disconnected from said closure and said first movable member and mounted in abutment with said first movable member; means for coupling said first movable member to said driving member; means for moving said driving member in said opposite di- 7 rections, said moving means acting, on oper-v ation in one direction, through said driving member upon said first movable member to move the latter to open said closure and act ing, on operation inthe opposite direction, through said driving member and said cou-' pling means to move said first movable member to close said closure; and means for oper-,

ating said coupling means to uncouple said first movable member from said driving member and thereby enable manual movement of said first movable member, and hence of said closure, in either the opening or closing direction of said closure without causing movement of said driving member or operation of the moving means therefor,

8. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a door mounted on said car; a door carriage mounted on said car, said'carriage being guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door; means connecting said door to said door carriage for movement therewith; a

driving carriage mounted on said car, said driving carriage also being guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door and being mounted in juxtaposition with said door carriage but disconnected therefrom when the door is in closed position; means for coupling said door carriage to said driving carriage upon movement of the 'door from closed position; and means for moving said driving carriage in the said opposite directions, said driving carriage upon being moved in the direction of opening movement of the door acting against sa d door carriage to effect the opening of said door and upon'movement in the direction of closing of the door acting through said coupling means to effect the closing of said door.

9. In an elevator installation an elevation car a door which when open affords access to said car; a door carriage guidedfor movement relatively to the opening closed by said door; means for connecting said door to said door carriage; a driving carriage guided for movement relatively to the opening closed by said door, said driving carriage being disconnected from said door carriage when said door is closed; means for moving said driving carriage, said means acting through the intermediary of said driving carriage to move said door carriage for opening said door; and

a latch operable upon the movement of said door from closed'position for connecting said door carriage to said driving carriage for movement therewith, said moving means act ing, when said door'carriage is connected to said driving carriage, through the intermediary of said driving carriage and said latch to move said door carriage to close said door. 10. In an elevatorinstallation; an elevator car; a door mounted on said car; a door carriage mounted on said car, said door carriage being guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed bysaid door; means connecting said door to said door carriage for movement therewith; a driving carriage mounted on said car, said driving carriage also being guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to theopening closed by'said door and being mounted in juxtaposition with said' door carriage; a stud on said door carriage; a hook member pivotally mounted on said driving carriage and 'biased into engagement with said stud to couple said door carriage to said driving carriage; means for moving said driving carriage in the direction ofclosing movement of said door, said moving means acting throughsaid driving carriage and said hook member and stud to move said door carriage for closing said door; and means for automatically releasing'said hook member from saidstud as the door arrives in closed position. t

' 11. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a door mounted on said car; a door carriage mounted on saidcar, said carriage being guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said doors; means connecting said door to said door carriage for movement therewith; a driving carriage mounted on said car, said driving carriage also being guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door and being mounted in juxtaposition with said door carriage; means for moving said driving carriage in the direction of opening movement of said door, said driving carriage upon being so moved pushing said door carriage to open said door;

a plurality of studs on said door carriage; a plurality of links pivotally mounted on said driving carriage and biased into engagement with said studs to couple said door carriage to said driving carriage; means for moving said driving carriage in the direction of closing movement of said door, said moving means acting through said driving carriage and said links and studs to move said door carriage for closing said door; and means for automatically releasing said links from said stud-s as the door arrives in closed position. Y

12. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a door mounted on said car; a door carriage mounted on said car, said carriage being guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door; means connecting said door to said door carriage for movement therewith; a driving carriage mounted on said ear, said carriage also being guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door and being abutted by said door carriage; a plurality of studs on said door carriage; a plurality of links pivotally mounted on said driving carriage and biased into engagement with said studs to couple said door carriage to said'driving carriage; means for moving said driving carriage in the direction of closing movement of said door, said moving means acting through said driving carriage and said links and studs to move'said door carriage for closing said door ;1 means interconnecting said links; a lever connected to one of said links and operable to move said links from engagement with said studs to uncouple said door carriage from said driving carriage; and a stop mounted on said car for operating said lever to move said links out of engagement with said studs when said door is moved into closed position.

13'. In an elevator installation an elevator car; a door which when open affordsaccess to said car; a door carriage mounted on said car for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door; means for connecting said closure to said door carriage for movement therewith; a

driving carriage mounted on said car for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door, said driving carriage being disconnected from said door and mounted in juxtaposition with said door carriage; a plurality of studs on said door carriage; a plurality of latches pivotally mounted on said driving carriage and biased into engagement with said studs to couple said door carriage to said driving carriage; means for moving said driving carriage in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door, said moving means acting, on operation in one direction,

through said driving carriage on said door carriage to move said door carriage for opening said door and acting, on operation in the opposite direction through said driving carriage and said latches and studs for moving said door carriage to close said door; and means controlled by movement of the driving carriage for. releasing said latches from said studs when the door is in closed position.

14. In .an elevator installation; an elevator car; a door which when open affords access to said car; a door carriage mounted on said car for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door; means for connecting said door to said door carriage for movement therewith; a driving carriage mounted on said car for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door; said driving carriage be ing unconnected to said door and door carriage and mounted in abutting relation with said door carriage; a plurality of studs on said door carriage; a plurality of latches pivotally mounted on said driving carriage and. biased into engagement with said studs to couple said door carriage to said driving carriage; means for moving said driving carriage in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door, said moving means acting, on operation in one di rection through said driving carriage on said door carriage to move said door carriage for opening said door and acting, on operation in the opposite direction, through said driving carriage and said latches and studs for moving said door carriage to close said door; means interconnecting said latches; means for moving said latches out of engagement with said studs to uncouple said door carriage from said driving carriage; and means for operating said latch moving means, upon movement of said door to closed position, to enable manual opening and closing of said door without causing movement of said driving carriage and operation of the moving means therefor 15. In an elevator installation; an elevator car; a door mounted on said car a driving carriage mounted on said car, said carriage being guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door; a door carriage mounted on said car, said door carriage also being guided for movement in opposite directions relatively to the opening closed by said door and being mounted in the path of movement in one direction of said driving carriage; means connecting said door to said door carriage for movement therewith; means for moving said driving carriage in the direction of opening movement of said door, said driving carriage when moved in said direction acting to push said door carriage in the same direction to effect opening of said door; a plurality of studs on said door carriage; a plurality of latches pivotally mounted on said driving carriage and biased into engagement with said studs to couple said door carriage to said driving carriage; means for moving said driving carriage in the direction of closing movement of said door, said driving carriage when moved in the door closing direction acting through said latches and studs to pull said door carriage along therewith to eiiect closing of said door; means interconnecting said latches; a lever connected to one of said latches and operable to move said latches from engagement with said studs to uncouple said door carriage from said driving carriage; and a stop mounted on said car for operating said lever to move said latches out of engagement with said studs when said door is moved into closed position, thereby enabling manual movement of said door to open position without causing operation of said driving carriage and the moving means therefor.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS BRADY. 

